1. Epworth Old Rectory 305 years & counting,
Are we as relevant now as we were then?
Gillian Crawley
11 March 2016

2. A Rectory for 250 years …
Then place opens as
Bed & Breakfast in 1957

3. Becoming more like a Museum

4. My predecessor was the first curator not to have to live in the building
Not to make breakfast every day for the guests
Change the linen
Lead guided tours around the building
And then to cook-up a 3 course dinner for the paying guests
Under her watch
Room functions & purposes were clarified
Scripts for a coherent, relevant & on-message tours written & implemented with volunteers
Modes introduced to catalogue the collections
The Rectory became a fully Accredited Museum
The exterior of the building repaired & made water tight
Development plans put in place that predict an exciting future for the Rectory

5. Now the Rectory is a Charitable Trust
1 full-time member of staff
3 part-time staff members
Plus a cohort of 50 volunteers
(without whom it
would not be possible
to operate on a day-to
day basis)

6. The basics Last year there were 5200 visitors
Receipted income through the shop was £21,000
£16,000, annual grant from the World Methodist Council
£35,000, annual grant from the British Methodist Council

7. Since I came into post
what have my first impressions been?

9. Fairly rapidly my conclusion is that we need Epworth as much as Epworth needs the Old Rectory
That we are not separate from the community that we located within
Be that the Methodist Church or
Epworth village, the Isle of Axholme, Lincolnshire, the East Midlands… the World?

10. My problems Partisan perceptions No perceptible “ownership”
It is only for Methodists
(and they might preach at me if I do go)
There is nothing there for US to do

11. Some solutions? Setting up forums Joining forums
Audience Development & active engagement
Audience advocacy
Event programming
Active visitor feedback & review

12. Christmas Craft Fair

13. New Furniture New Opportunities

14. Easter Fun Day

15. Mowbray Fair

16. School visits

17. New for 2016 Epworth is the new home for the MWiB collection
Interactive children’s trails & souvenir activity guide

18. Thank you for listening
Any Questions?